Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Type: Suspension

Location: San Francisco, California

Date Built: May 27th, 1937

  • Before the construction of the bridge, people relied on a ferry to commute between Marin County and San Francisco
  • Joseph Strauss was the chief engineer of the project
  • Construction began January 5th, 1933
  • The cost was $35 million
  • The project was completed on April 19th, 1937
  • The bridge has been closed three times for dangerous weather conditions
  • Current issues include tolling methods, suicides, and extreme winds

Type: Beam and Suspension

Location: Between Danish Islands of Zealand and Funen

Date Built: June 14th, 1998

  • Designed by the Danish engineering firm COWI
  • Largest construction project in Danish history
  • Reduced commute from an hour long ferry ride to a ten minute car ride

Type: Through Arch

Location: Sydney, Australia

Date Built: March 19th, 1932

  • Nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of the arch design
  • Tallest steel arch bridge in the world
  • J.J.C. Bradfield was the chief engineer on the project and is considered he 'father' of the bridge
  • The south-east pylon of the bridge is the main tourist destination
  • The BridgeClimb company provides a tour to the top of the bridge

The Through-Arch design will be more efficient without undermining the charm that the current bridge provides as an icon of Southern Maryland. By redesigning the layout of the lanes and the height, as well as adding safety features, the new Solomons bridge will provide an experience that travelers and daily commuters will find to be safe and convenient.

  • The present design of the Thomas Johnson Bridge is classified as an arch design; we would change it to a through arch design.

  • The through arch design would change the lanes of the bridge from an arch to a flat surface, which would would make drivers more comfortable in inclement weather and high winds.

  • This change would also allow for wider lanes, and greater stability.
  • In our survey, the majority of Calvert County residents said they made over 3 round-trips across the bridge per week. A majority of the participants reported heavy traffic.

  • This will allow vehicles to cross the bridge faster and reduce the likelihood of a back-up that can become dangerous.

  • The second lane in either direction will also allow for traffic to continue to move in the event of an accident or bridge maintenance, ultimately keeping those working and those affected safer.
  • Citizens will be able to cross the Patuxent River in an environmentally friendly way and enjoy the beauty that southern Maryland has to offer from a new perspective.

  • There will a barrier to ensure the safety of the pedestrians, as well as sightseeing binoculars to further enhance the experience.

  • There will be a pedestrian lane on both sides of the bridge that can accommodate both walkers and bicyclists.
  • Height will be changed from 135 feet tall to 100 feet

  • The reduction of the height will increase the comfort levels of drivers, as our survey shows.

  • Taller side barriers will be added to provide commuters with a safer driving experience during inclement weather.
  • Higher side barriers provide more protection for drivers and pedestrians, though not solid to ensure that the view can still be seen.

  • Lights will help ensure that all occupants of the roadway can safely see the lanes

  • Call boxes placed at several different locations will allow travelers to contact help in case of an emergency.
  • The Thomas Johnson Bridge is an icon for Southern Maryland; there have been countless paintings, drawings, and other renderings of it as a symbol of the community’s past and culture.

  • Though the design may be different from the original, the aesthetics will still be pleasing, but the function will be increased.

  • The sun would still set behind the arch, and allow for all who see it to remember how one bridge can unite so many people.

"Australia.gov.au." Sydney Harbour Bridge. Australia.gov.au, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

Babcock, Jason, and Meghan Russell. "Local." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 14 July 2011. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Bridge Basics." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Bridge Failures - Most Famous Bridge Disasters." Bridge Failures. History of Bridges, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Critical Analysis of the Great Belt East Bridge, Denmark." Bath.ac.uk. University of Bath, Apr. 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.

Dyson, Roy. "Thomas Johnson Bridge - "SAFE AND SOUND?"" Somd.com. Southern Maryland Online, 9 May 2008. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

Gargulinski, Ryn. "Suspension Bridge Strengths & Weaknesses." EHow. Demand Media, 05 Feb. 2010. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

Gascoigne, Bamber. "HISTORY OF BRIDGES." HISTORY OF BRIDGES. History World, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Golden Gate Bridge." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Great Belt Fixed Link." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"List of Bridge Types." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 May 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Sydney Harbor Bridge." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Thomas Johnson Bridge." Thomas Johnson Bridge. St. Mary's College of Maryland, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

The Thomas Johnson Bridge Project

By Maggie Allison, Megan Brien, Courtney Hamm, Sarah Mazur and Hannah Pulley

In Conclusion

The Thomas Johnson Bridge has been an important attribute of Southern Maryland for over thirty years. It was built to connect two counties, and to make life easier for the citizens of Calvert and St. Mary's County, but this purpose of the bridge has long since been outdated as this area continues to develop. Our design was made with the intent to combat the current problems of the Thomas Johnson Bridge, while also increasing the appeals of life in Southern Maryland. The entirety of our community and its livelihood can be seen from the top of the bridge; Comehasama's design will not only preserve the symbolism that the Thomas Johnson Bridge encapsulates, but will expand upon it to make the bridge mean even more to those who will use it for many years to come.

Works Cited

Journalistic/Contemporary Research

Research Information

Some are concerned about the safety of the Thomas Johnson bridge while others are more inclined to feel bothered by the inconvenience it has infamously posed on more than one occasion. Senator Roy Dyson (D) voices both of these grievances by declaring, "Well, I am one Marylander who is concerned about one bridge in particular - the Thomas Johnson Bridge. This two-lane 31 year old span over the Patuxent River links St. Mary's to Calvert County. Today, it accommodates three times the traffic it was built to handle. The Thomas Johnson Bridge is the site of an ongoing traffic jam. One needs the patience of Job to travel over the bridge twice a day as I do, along with thousands of others, including commuters from the Pax River Naval Base in St. Mary's County," in a 2008 opinion article posted on somd.com (Dyson par. 3 and 4).

We conducted a short survey given to a small pool of over forty participants in the community from both Calvert County and St. Mary's County.

Height, traffic, low side barriers, and weather conditions are all factors contributing to the discomfort of commuters crossing the Thomas Johnson Bridge, with weather being the most popular concern.

Opinions of Officials

Nearly all answers indicated a positive response toward the addition of pedestrian and bicycle lanes to the bridge.

“It could be much, much lower. But I also understand there is currently a nice view of Solomons when you’re up there. The lower you go, the lesser the nice view.”

- Calvert Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. (R)

The level of traffic was most clearly measured as moderate by most responders, most of whom encountered it "occasionally" or "rarely" though those who traveled more often over the bridge cited the traffic as more frequent.

“One thing I didn’t want to see is one bridge parallel beside it, so you have one higher and one lower.” - Calvert Commissioner Jerry Clark (R)

“So then it comes down to the fact that it is a lot more expensive to build a new bridge at the same height as the old bridge, versus the additional justification of it being a stunning visual marker. That’s the kind of thinking that should be going on.” - Calvert Commissioners' President Susan Shaw (R)

“Lowering the bridge would potentially reduce costs. They do not need that height anymore."- Jeremy Beck, SHA project manager

Public Opinion Survey

“At the time it was built, I don’t think we could have foreseen the amount of people that use it today. We need a new bridge. It’s just not even debatable.” - Calvert Commissioners' President Susan Shaw (R)

Quotes extracted from (Babcock and Russell, "St. Mary’s Commissioners").

Our New Design

Four Lane Highway

Arch Design to Through Arch Design

Two lanes for each direction just like the lanes of Route 4.

Learning from History

(Wikipedia, Through Arch Bridges)

ARCH DESIGN

THROUGH ARCH DESIGN

Pedestrian Lane

90%

VOTED

IN FAVOR

(Public Opinion Survey)

The Golden Gate Bridge

Great Belt Bridge

(Great Belt Fixed Link, Wikipedia.)

(Wikipedia, Golden Gate Bridge)

Safety Features

Current Bridge Problems

Height

Pros and Cons

Suspension bridges typically cost more than other types

Suspension bridges can sway dangerously in extreme weather

Suspension bridges are ideal for wide waterways because of the length of the bridge spans

There are no pedestrian walkways or bicycle lanes.

Low safety barriers account for a higher rate of suicides than most other national landmarks

Construction can be unsafe for workers, requiring them to dive to the depths of the waterway to set up supports

Can handle earthquakes easier because of flexibility

The tall, concrete pylons keep the bridge stable in extreme winds.

The bridge is made of mostly steel, which ensures a long service life.

(eHow, Suspension Bridge Strengths and Weaknesses.)

Example of Lights

Snowfall can add significant weight to the cables, affecting the aerodynamics of the suspension.

PROS

The bridge is not tall enough to accommodate all boat traffic. There have been two reported accidents of sea traffic striking the West Bridge.

CONS

(Critical Analysis, Bridge Engineering Conference 2009.)

Emergency box on Brooklyn Bridge

Pros

Cons

135 ft.

(Wikipedia, Thomas Johnson Bridge.)

Overall Aesthetics

Bridges Throughout History

Model for New Through Arch Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge

  • Cracks developed in the foundation of the bridge during the summer of 1988
  • The bridge was closed for a few months so repairs could be made
  • When traffic on the bridge worsens, people must use the Benedict Bridge, which is 30 minutes away
  • With more Patuxent River Naval Air Station commuters, traffic has increased significantly, and the weakened bridge is now over capacity
  • The height makes drivers uncomfortable, and extreme winds can cause the bridge to sway
  • Low side barriers have created an issue for driver safety, comfort and suicide

Our Inspiration...

The Thomas Johnson Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Type: Arch/ Beam

Location: Solomons, MD

Date Built: January 1978

  • 135 feet tall
  • Carries 30,000 vehicles daily
  • Cost $26 million

(Sydney Harbour Bridge, Wikipedia.)

(Wikipedia, Thomas Johnson Bridge.)

Pros and Cons

Structure can handle forces from earthquakes and sinking ships

The pylons are used to house popular tourist destinations and 360 degree lookout areas

Steel structure can easily corrode

Many drivers are uncomfortable with the current height and low side barriers

Can carry bicycle and pedestrian traffic

Steel bearings accommodate expansion due to weather changes

Current design is aesthetically pleasing and offers a great view of Solomons Island

All boat traffic can comfortably fit underneath the bridge

Two lanes are not enough to accommodate daily traffic, and the bridge is already over capacity

Fear of recurring structural issues- cracks were found in the summer of 1988

CONS

PROS

Pros

Cons

(Wikipedia, Thomas Johnson Bridge.)

Thomas Johnson Bridge Redesign

The Thomas Johnson Bridge

The Thomas Johnson Bridge

Where We Come In . . .

Named after Maryland's first governor, the Thomas Johnson Bridge was built in 1977.

Thomas Johnson

The Thomas Johnson Bridge is in need of a redesign - a new bridge for a changing and growing community. Our company has re-imagined this Southern Maryland landmark to not only improve upon the outdated bridge, but to honor the community by preserving the beautiful aesthetic of the original design .

The Benedict Bridge, a half an hour drive from the Thomas Johnson Bridge.

In 1988, cracks in the foundation of the bridge resulted in months of repair. The bridge was closed and many were forced to take a detour to the Benedict Bridge.

(Wikipedia, Thomas Johnson Bridge.)

The Thomas Johnson Bridge, or better known to most of us as simply "the bridge" has been an icon for many years for both Calvert and St. Mary's County. It arches over the Patuxent River, functioning both as a tool for travel and a symbol of connection, and is often photographed or represented in other creative mediums. But it is apparent that this bridge's usefulness and effectiveness is failing, and an upgrade is long overdue.

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi